Conforming end stops for a plastic zipper

Abstract

A plastic bag comprises first and second opposing panels, a reclosable zipper, and a slider. The first and second opposing panels are fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The reclosable zipper extends along a mouth formed opposite the bottom. The zipper includes a first track with a first profile and a second track with a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The first and second profiles are engaged to each other while the slider is in the closed position, and the first and second profiles are disengaged from each other in response to movement of the slider from the closed position to the open position. To prevent the slider from going past the ends of the zipper and to provide adequate end strength that resists stresses applied to the profiles during normal use of the bag, end stops in the form of flexible segments severed from a flexible plastic strip, fairly rigid segments severed from an extruded clip profile, or softened plastic material, are applied and secured to opposite ends of the zipper.